Pitstone Hill

Pitstone Hill is a protected grassland site covering 23 hectares of steep slopes in the Chiltern hills, combining open meadows with woodland patches. The terrain displays varied plant communities adapted to chalk-based soil conditions across its hillside.

The hillside bears evidence of prehistoric flint mining operations and contains Grim's Ditch, an ancient earthwork structure several centuries old. These remains reveal how people shaped and used this landscape in distant times.

The site forms part of the Ridgeway National Trail, a long-distance walking route that connects natural and archaeological locations across the region. People use this path to experience the landscape and discover the history embedded in the hills.

The site is accessible from Stocks Road, where parking is available near the main walking paths. The steep slopes require sturdy footwear, and trails can become slippery after rain or wet weather.

The lower slopes support nationally rare plant species such as pasque flowers and field fleawort, alongside around 26 recorded butterfly species. This concentration of uncommon plants and insects makes the hillside a hotspot for nature enthusiasts.